America's aging Minuteman III nuclear missiles are getting replaced. We got an inside look.

Key Points:

• U.S. Strategic Command and Air Force Global Strike Command leaders toured a Minuteman III ICBM silo in Wyoming, highlighting ongoing efforts to modernize America's ground-based nuclear deterrent with the new Sentinel missile system.
• The Minuteman III system, operational since 1961 and well past its design life, is being replaced by the Sentinel, which promises greater range, payload capacity, security, and reliability despite being about a decade behind schedule.
• The Sentinel program is currently 80% over budget, costing approximately $141 billion, with plans to build over 450 new launch silos and multiple support facilities; however, commanders assert it will be cheaper to operate long-term due to reduced maintenance needs.
• Security remains a top priority during the transition, with rapid response teams protecting decommissioned silos and new technologies like the Grey Wolf helicopter enhancing response capabilities nationwide.
• U.S. military officials emphasize the importance of maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent amid global modernization efforts by adversaries such as China, Russia, and North Korea, underscoring that deterrence is an active and ongoing mission.